Video Game Ninja

Now this is definitely exciting news for both Warhammer fans and Xbox 360 gamers. THQ is bringing the Warhammer universe to the Xbox 360 with Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine. And as an Ultramarine player I'm totally stoked to see that they will be the playable chapter in this game.

Ok enough blabbing, check out the trailer below:




You have Space Marines, Thunderhammers, Jump Packs, Heavy Bolters, Chainswords....Aghhh!! It's ok, I know you're excited too ^_^

Check out more video game news, info, and reviews on my Examiner page

I just posted a review for Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure on my Examiner page, and I must say, this has been one of the best games on the Nintendo DS for 2009.

Yes, on the cover of Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure an old guy is standing above some crazy looking blocks, with a sword in one hand, and a cup of tea in the other. Whatever you're thinking at this point, I thought it too, trust me. But if you haven't played this game yet, let me be the first to tell you that you do not want to miss a great game like this.

Check out the full review for Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure.

Frys.com is offering Gears of War for the Xbox 360 for $9.99 - only available for in-store pickup. This is definitely a "must have" for any Xbox 360 owner.

Check out more video game news, info, and reviews on my Examiner page.

As reported on my Examiner.com page (check it out to see a coupon code lower the price):

Until Thursday, 6 p.m. MNT, Skullcandy.com is offering 50% off a wide selection of their '08 headphones.

If you own a DS, PSP, iPod, or any MP3 player, chances are you're always on the look out for a good set of cans, and Skullcandy combines audio quality with stylish and edgy designs that makes their products stand out from the crowd.

My household owns a total of 5 Skullcandy products, 4 ear-bud style and 1 DJ style headphones. My wife and I love all 5 headphones, which is why we continue to purchase Skullcandy products. My wife primarily uses her Skullcandy ear-buds to listen to her iPod, while I use my ear-buds and DJ style headphones on my iPod, laptop, desktop, and DS. We definitely put a lot of miles on our headphones.

I'm actually thinking of picking up the Double Agent or the Lowrider Xbox 360 Gaming headset. I'm still stuck using the stock Xbox 360 headset, so I think it's about time for an upgrade.

Continue reading at my Examiner.com page to get a coupon code to make this deal even better!

Read my Nintendo DS and Sony PSP articles, news, and reviews

Information copied from my Examiner.com page:

PS3news.com reports that our friends across the pond will be getting a new PSP-3000 bundle which will include a vibrant blue colored PSP, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince game, and a protective carrying case. This bundle will be available in June, and so far it's exclusive to Europe.

The vibrant blue looks nice on the PSP. It would be nice to see if more of these carnival colored PSP systems released, especially in bundled packages like this one. Let's just hope we see some colorful PSP systems hit the states soon.

Read more PSP news and articles on my Examiner page.

News reported by strategyinformer.com:

EA announced today that its recently released MMO strategy game called BattleForge is now a Play4Free title. The game was recently reduced to $29.99, but EA has now decided to make the game free.

It looks like the former computer and consumer electronics retail store isn't dead. Check out my Examiner page for more information regarding the relaunch of Circuit City.

Information copied from my Examiner.com page:

The good folks over at Joystiq.com have reminded the DS community that Personal Trainer: Walking will be hitting the stores next Tuesday, May 26. This next entry into the "fitness" genre hopes to help gamers and non-gamers alike have a little fun with exercising. This is one of the games that hasn't had too much press release or advertisements, so if you've never heard of it that's ok, let's break it down!

Exercise with the Nintendo DS
Personal Trainer: Walking comes with two pedometers that you can wirelessly connect to your Nintendo DS system! Check out your activity rhythm, or walking habits, and see if the duration, timing and number of steps are all the best they can be. The Activity Meter provides helpful comments on whether you achieved your target and will even compare your walking performance to an animal! Personal Trainer: Walking will also set you fun Mini Targets after your results have been checked. A digital Personal Trainer at your fingertips!

Product Description
Looking for a fun and helpful way to exercise? Personal Trainer Walking tracks users' progress and makes going for a walk a little more fun. It comes with two Activity Meters! Simply place the Activity Meter in your pocket or bag (or attach it to your belt with the included Activity Meter Clip Connector) and carry it around with you as you go about your daily routine. If the number of steps you've recorded in one day exceeds your daily step target, the light on the Activity Meter will change from red to green. You then transfer the data recorded by the Activity Meter to the Infrared Game Card. Once the data has been transferred, you can see the results on your Nintendo DS system and check your life rhythm! The Activity Meter will track your daily step count minute by minute, so you can take a look at any day and check your activity with a number of graphs. Up to five years of records can be saved on the calendar, giving you a clear portrait of your life rhythm over time—you can even write and save notes.

[Continue reading at Amazon.com]

Go ahead and get all of the jokes out of the way, but I think this is pretty cool. I use to carry around a pedometer at work(until my son hid it a few months ago), but I know a few of my co-workers use one every day. It was actually surprising, and fun, to see how many steps you could get in on a single day. Since I work as an IT specialist at UMBC, I'm constantly running around to different buildings and offices, and was amazed to see that I could land anywhere between 9,000-12,000 steps. I think my highest was around 20,000 steps - that was a crazy day.

Anyway, I really hope that this game/gadget takes off, as it's a shockingly fun way to get a little exercise in while you're at work. The one thing I think I will miss from the included pedometer is the LCD display, as I could check my numbers instantly with my other one. But at the same time, it's a great idea that you can transfer your data over to the DS and check your stats along with other info and charts. And hey, you get to attach your Mii to this game as well!

There's probably a good chance that I'll pick up Personal Trainer: Walking, and this is a good way to get another pedometer since my son has added my original one to his hidden treasures somewhere in the house.

Read more DS and PSP news, articles, and reviews on my Examiner.com page

Who can forget the good'ol Game Boy Advance? Many of us have lost hundreds of hours into this little bugger. Many of us still play GBA games on our Nintendo DS Phats and Lites. And many of us, including myself, have not picked up a DSi because of the omission of the GBA slot.

And although the DS is kicking every other consoles butt, it's nice to know that the Game Boy Advance hasn't fell off the face of the earth. Kotaku.com reports:

Ask yourself: when was the last time you saw a Game Boy Advance on a shelf? Or heard about a new Game Boy Advance game? Or even heard Nintendo mention the console, even in passing?

Exactly. Never. So, fearing for the health of the poor little guy, we contacted Nintendo to see whether the console had been quietly killed off in the middle of the night, its years of loyal service rewarded with naught but an unmarked grave somewhere outside Nintendo HQ.

Nintendo's response was a surprising one. Turns out the Game Boy Advance is not dead. Shipments of the console are still being made to distributors and retailers across the world, and last fiscal year, the GBA sold 420,000 units worldwide, with the vast majority of those sales being made in the Asian and developing markets.

It's really nice to see that this tried-and-true gaming system is still being supported and circulated by Nintendo. There are a ton of gamers out there who get pure joy out of playing GBA games, and don't really want or need a DS or DSi.

Check out more information on my Examiner page.

Great news for Deadpool fans and Marvel Ultimate Alliance gamers - IGN.com reports that the sword-wielding mercenary will be playable in the upcoming Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 game:

The recent film X-Men Origins: Wolverine crushed the spirits of many a merry Marvel fan. Deadpool, the beloved "Merc with a Mouth," was turned into a bizarre science experiment gone wrong. For those worried the old Deadpool you love is gone for good in Marvel-licensed videogames, rest easy. As reported earlier this month, the comic-book version of Deadpool is one of the 24 playable characters in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2.

Check out the trailer below:




You know, I'm still on the very last level in Marvel Ultimate Alliance. I need to just pop it in and finish'er up.

Did anyone else see X-Men Origins: Wolverine? If so, let us know what you thought of Deadpools appearance in the movie!

Looks like we will be seeing a Halo 4 in the future! 8bitjoystick.com reports:

There is a job listing on Gamasutra for Microsoft Games Studios' Halo team looking for an Animation Director. It's is not just one job listing. Microsoft Games Studio is looking to build a whole team.

This is not for Halo 3 ODST made by Bungie and it is not for Halo Wars by Ensemble Studios/Robot Entertainment and it is not for the totally dead Peter Jackson Halo Project.

It is not going to be officially announced until long after Halo 3: ODST ships and Bungie quits working on Halo but they are hiring the people right now to make the new Halo Xbox 360 game. This new game is under the supervision of Frankie's Halo Franchise Development Group.

Looks like they are not going to outsource the development of Halo IV to an external developer but rather build a dedicated team in Redmond to handle future Halo games. Things have been trending this way for a long time now.

Joystiq.com has posted the tracklist of the upcoming Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits game for the Nintendo DS:

• 12 Stones - "Adrenalin"
• AFI - "Miss Murder"
• Angels & Airwaves - "Call to Arms"
• Atreyu - "Falling Down"
• Black Tide - "Shockwave"
• Coldplay - "Violet Hill"
• Endeverafter - "I Wanna Be Your Man"
• Evanescence - "Sweet Sacrifice"
• Fall Out Boy - "This Ain't A Scene, It's An Arms Race"
• Finger Eleven - "Paralyzer"
• Foo Fighters - "All My Life"
• Franz Ferdinand - "The Fallen"
• Kaiser Chiefs - "Ruby"
• Lenny Kravitz - "Where Are We Runnin'?"
• Modest Mouse - "Dashboard"
• Phantom Planet - "Do The Panic"
• Sum 41 - "Still Waiting"
• Tenacious D - "The Metal"
• The Bravery - "Unconditional"
• The Donnas - "What Do I Have to Do"
• The Duke Spirit - "Lassoo"
• The Fratellis - "Chelsea Dagger"
• The Kooks - "Always Where I Need to Be"
• The Offspring - "Half-Truism"
• The Strokes - "Reptilia"
• Weezer - "Everybody Get Dangerous"
• Wolfmother - "Dimension"
• Yellowcard - "Lights and Sounds"

Pocket-lint.com also mentions that only 3 of the 28 songs will not be master tracks from the original recordings. That's pretty impressive when you consider all of this will be packed into a Nintendo DS game.

Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits will hit store shelves on June 9th, and will include the Guitar Grip add-on. It would be nice to see a stand-alone Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits game without the Guitar Grip add-on, as many gamers (including myself) already own one from purchasing the previous games.

Related Articles:

• Nintendo DS tops the sales charts for April 2009
• The fight against Nintendo DS game copying and piracy
• Review - Puzzle Quest: Galactrix
• All Nintendo DS news and articles

A new post was made today on the official Playstation blog where thePSP Marketing Manager, Kristin Neirinckx, announced that a new PSP Limited Edition Dssidia Final Fantasy Entertainment Pack bundle will be available starting August 25, 2009. This PSP Limited Edition bundle will be exclusive to Gamestop and will release around the same time the Dissidia Final Fantasy game hits store shelves.

The post on the official Playstation blog states that:

The entertainment pack includes:

• “Mystic Silver” PSP-3000 system
• DISSIDIA FINAL FANTASY game
• “FINAL FANTASY VII Advent Children,” on UMD™
• 2GB Memory Stick PRO Duo™

The PSP Limited Edition Dissidia Final Fantasy bundle will cost $199.99

Pretty good deal for whats included in the package, on top of the "Mystic Silver" PSP-3000. Personally, I would loved to have seen a more "customized" PSP system. Maybe add some laser etching or custom decals. Either way, the "Mystic Silver" color doesn't look too bad.

Visit my Examiner page for the additional PSP news and information.

IGN.com presents us with news and pictures of the a pair of Xbox sneakers, which will break the bank while destroying your vision, and will do it for the wonderful price of $2,500:

"These are an exclusive pair...only one of its kind. Patent leather back with embedded fiber optic wiring in the shape of the XBOX logo. Battery placement is in the tongue as well as on and off switch that has 2 settings: Strobe or Constant light functions. Gradient lime swoosh faded to black. The toe is painted in a surreal Tiger Camouflage with accents of lime and bright green. These are a men's size 11."

I like my shoes, and I like my video games, but combining the two usually isn't a good idea unless they're for the 8 and under crowd, and include light up LED's when you stomp around. I guess I won't be finding these at Payless..

IGN.com reports that a demo for the upcoming Nintendo DS SRPG game, Knights in the Nightmare, is available for download through the Nintendo Channel.

This is a great way for gamers and SRPG fans who have never heard of this game to get a taste of Knights in a Nightmare and what it's all about. Based off of Gamespots preview, this game could be a bit of a handful:

The role-playing games on the Nintendo DS just keep on coming, and next on the horizon is Knights in the Nightmare, from Sting, the maker of Yggdra Union. This game is in a class of its own, and if you thought Yggdra was confusing and a bit of a mess onscreen, you should be warned that Knights in the Nightmare looks like a disaster--at least until you've spent enough time poring over the never-ending tutorials so that you have a clue about how to proceed.

Check out my Examiner page for the full details regarding the demo and pre-order goodies for Nights in the Nightmare.

New report from Gamingfront.net regarding details on Modern Warefare 2:

The latest Modern Warfare 2 Details were published in the latest issue of PSM3, a UK Based Magazine.

- Swimming mode enabled.

- A 'Stealthy' Oil pipeline Scuba Mission will be included in campaign mode.

- A level will definetly be based in Rio De Janeiro.

- Siberian Level will feature in campaign mode.

- Vehicles (e.g. Trucks, Tanks etc.) will be introduced into the Modern Era.

- A 'Helicopter Based' Level will be featured.

- An Oil Tanker level will also be featured.

- Ken Lally (Wesker from Resident Evil 5) will be voice acting. Most likely as a Russian villain.

More details and a new gameplay trailer will be revealed on May 24th. Fact.

Giantbomb.com has also posted some low-res images that were leaked:

http://imgur.com/2K3h.jpg
http://imgur.com/2KH.jpg
http://imgur.com/2KWD.jpg
http://imgur.com/2KkX.jpg
http://imgur.com/2Kt.jpg

Our son just turned 14 months last week, and since he was born, my wife and I have only used disposable diapers. Cloth diapering was something we never considered at first, but over the past couple of months we started to get more and more interested in it. The two biggest reasons were to save money, since the cost associated with buying disposable diapers adds up quickly, and they are better for the environment.

I know many dads out there reading this are thinking "Dude, you're crazy", I know, I thought the same thing too. Why add another chore to the list, and another few steps to the diaper changing process?

Well, I'm here to tell you that it's really not that bad! If you have a little one and are using disposable diapers, read on and find out why cloth diapering is much easier then many parents expect.

First, let me say that I'm the type to do A TON of research before I make a major purchase or investment. I'll browse forums, read reviews, personal blogs, and anything related to the product in question. This definitely holds true to when we were considering cloth diapers. Between my wife and I, I'd say we did a total of 15+ hours worth of researching.

In the end, it came down to a couple different brands of cloth diapers, but we ended up going with the Bumgenius 3.0. The average cost per Bumgenius 3.0 is about $17-$18, so you can see why I wanted to do all that research and make sure this was the right diaper to invest in.


What I love about the Bumgenius 3.0 is that it's a one size fits all type of cloth diaper. You can adjust the size by the buttons on the front, and it fits from 7lbs up to 35lbs. Our son is about 22-23lbs, and we have the Bumgenius 3.0 set to the largest setting. I feel very confident that this diaper will still fit him as he grows, as there is plenty of velcro room left to adjust it as he gets bigger.

So how does this thing work? There is basically a pocket built into the Bumgenius 3.0 which is used to store cloth inserts. You get two types of microfiber inserts, the first is a newborn size, and the second is a larger, adjustable size, microfiber insert. During the day we only use the regular insert as we can change him as needed, but at night we put both inserts in the Bumgenius 3.0 to help soak up all the pee during the night. Out of our first week of use, we have had no leaks what so ever. The built-in lining of the Bumgenius 3.0 wicks away moisture and pee and transfers it to the microfiber insert. Everytime we have checked, the built-in lining was nearly, if not completely dry, while the microfiber inserts soaked everything up.

How about cleaning? Don't worry, this was one of the biggest questions I had as well. It's actually not that bad. If it's just a wet diaper, we take out the insert and throw both the insert and Bumgenius 3.0 diaper in the diaper pal (we actually use a wet bag to store these diapers, but either is fine). That's it. When our little boy does a #2, then I take the Bumgenius 3.0 over to the toilet, drop the poop into the toilet, scrap off any extra's from the diaper, remove the insert, and put both of them in the wet bag (or diaper pal, whatever you are using).

What about a messy poop? No problem! We have a removable hand shower that can reach over to the toilet. So if it's really messy, we hold the bumgenius 3.0 over the toilet and spray it off, then put it in the wet bag. Easy as that. It really only adds an extra minute or two to your regular diaper changing process, and after a weeks use it has become second nature.

When the wet bag gets full, or we run out of Bumgenius diapers, we throw all of the diapers in the wash. It is recommended that you do 2 cycles of wash, one in cold water and one in hot. Both times you only use 1/4 of the recommended detergent, and you should use detergents that are additive free. For our Bumgenius diapers we are using Purex Free and Clear. No problems at all. We also wash our wet bag with our diapers too!

One thing I did notice with drying these is that the microfiber inserts take longer to try than the Bumgenius diapers. So just be ready to let the inserts dry for a bit loner.

That's about it. A video game dad has moved from using disposable diapers to cloth diapers! We still give our daycare provider disposable diapers, but when our son is at home with us and on the weekends we stick to the Bumgenius diapers. We do keep disposables around the house and in the diaper bag though, you never know when you need them!

We started out by ordering 3 Bumgenius diapers from Mom's Milk Boutique to test the waters, and we loved it. We have ordered an additional set of 3 and expect them to come in later this week. Hopefully we can have another set or two ordered before the summer, since my wife is a teacher and she will be home with our son the whole summer. I've been completely satisfied with the service and products offered at Mom's Milk Boutique, two thumbs up!

Anyways if you have any questions or if something is unclear please let me know. I'll do my best to help you out. And if you currently use the Bumgenius 3.0 or any cloth diapers, I'd love to hear from you and your experience!

As reported on my Examiner page, Nintendo has released a chart that shows 26.1 million DS units have been sold in Japan. The chart then shows that those 26.1 million DS units equals out to 20% of the Japanese population owning a Nintendo DS. Those numbers mean that 1 out of every 5 Japanese people own a Nintendo DS. That's crazy.


Many of these DS units sold though are from gamers who upgrade DS systems, lets say a user who purchases a DS Phat then purchases the DS Lite. Or from those who owned one of the previously mentioned DS systems and gets the new DSi. Or even when a new color comes out or limited edition DS has been released.

Either way, the fact remains that enough DS units were sold in Japan that 1 in 5 of the Japanese population own a DS.

Visit my Examiner page for more information and discussions regarding the 26.1 million DS systems sold in Japan.

NIS America has announced that they will be bringing A Witch's Tale to the Nintendo DS later this fall. Check out my Examiner page to view the latest trailer for A Witch's Tale.

Nintendo has officially announced that the classic GBA games, Pokemon Gold and Silver, will be remade for the Nintendo DS for a fall release for Japanese gamers.

Read the full scoop regarding the Pokemon Gold and Silver announcement!

A great deal has been posted for Guitar Hero fans and DS owners/gamers. Both the game and the Guitar Hero peripheral are only $15.

Check out the deal for Guitar Hero: On Tour Nintendo DS bundle!

I picked up this bundle over last years Black Friday deals at Gamestop. If I hadn't picked it up already I would definitely jump on this deal. Portable Guitar Hero is fantastic!

Great news for Gears of War 2 fans (which includes myself, of course) - Microsoft and Epic will be releasing Gears of War 2: All Fronts Collection on July 28th, for $19.99.

As reported by Gamespy.com, this collection will contain all previous Gears of War 2 add-ons, seven new multiplayer maps, as well as a deleted single-player campaign chapter. And for gamers who have already purchased the previously released Gears of War 2 content, the new deleted chapter as well as multiplayer maps and content will be available for download for 1600 MS points.

Here are details of the new content reported by Gamespy.com

• Allfathers Garden: Honor the sacred grounds of the Coalition founders in this explosive map, where powerful weapons catalyze fast and furious action at this COG landmark.



• Memorial: Set near the Eternal Flame, which pays tribute to the fallen soldiers on the battlefield, a hard-fought battle ensues at the Tomb of Unknowns. Putting their flank formation and evasive skills to the test, players will fight to control the Boomshot.



• Sanctuary: Once a peaceful ground for reflection and remembrance, all that remains of the Sanctuary is the chill of death. Feast your eyes on the arsenal of weapons available as you make your way through the tight paths and blind corners of the Locust-damaged temple corridors.



• War Machine: In the abandoned train station that once served as a hub for travel, players will need to master the Longshot, Mulcher and Boomshot weapons to advance the fight while evading fire from the platforms above.



• Highway: Take the fight deep into the Locust Hollow in the complex passages of this underground highway system brimming with enemy vermin. Stick together, separate the enemy and have an exit strategy ready or it'll be a one-way trip.



• Way Station: Sitting in limbo between death and "processing" are Locust way stations filled with fallen COG soldiers. Tread lightly and practice patience as it's better to sacrifice firepower for stealth while navigating this minefield of hidden grenades.



• Nowhere: Set in the middle of what was once a destination for weary desert travellers, the land is now barren and devoid of life. Pick off your enemies with the Longshot sniper rifle and make your way to the stairwell with a well-fortified team during this intense firefight.

I can pretty much guarantee you that I will be picking up Gears of War 2: All Fronts Collection in July when it comes out.

This is one of those games that everyone who owns a Nintendo DS needs to check out. You basically take Maxwell (your character) through each level, solving a series of puzzles. But the catch is on how you solve the puzzles. You have to write down your solution on the bottom touch screen, and Maxwell will then be able to use whatever you wrote in order to solve the puzzle?

If the concept still seems a little cloudy, it's ok! Check out the trailer below and you'll see what it's all about!

View Trailer

Rumors are buzzing around that a huge Pokemon announcement will be coming to us this Sunday, May 10th. The biggest speculation is that we could possibly see a remake of Pokemon Gold & Silver. While this is the most likely announcement, gamers and fans alike have been requesting some sort of Pokemon 3D RPG or even a Pokemon MMO.

Check out the scoop!

What do you think??

Here is this weeks list of new releases to the video game scene. Doesn't look like there's anything ground breaking, but I may check out Puzzle Kingdoms for the DS.

Check out the list!

Let us know what games you are planning to get this week, or if you're waiting for something better to come along!

For buyers that are still questioning whether they should get a new DSi or not, MSNBC has posted their 5 reasons why you may want to hold off.

Check out my Examiner page for the info!